John and Barbara Cochran

Veteran journalists and broadcasters John and Barbara Cochran share stories from their careers and their friendship with the late University of Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore during a benefit Monday for Caring Days, a day program for adults with Alzheimer's and other forms of memory loss, at Indian Hills Country Club in Tuscaloosa.

staff photo | Dusty Compton

By Ed EnochStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 11:45 p.m.

Veteran journalist and broadcaster Barbara Cochran remembered Mal Moore, the late athletics director for the University of Alabama, as a kind friend who was patient with her "dumb" questions about football and who shared her passion for literature and poetry.

Her husband, John Cochran, a UA graduate and former senior correspondent for ABC News, recalled a friendship with Moore that began with a meeting on the practice field and conversations about football before evolving into a more personal relationship.

"We talked about personal things ... I felt he gave good advice to me, and I hope I gave him good advice," John Cochran said.

The Cochrans, friends of Moore who spent careers covering national and international events and politics, were the featured speakers Monday at a luncheon to benefit Caring Days, a day care program for adults with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss. The program is a ministry of 23 local congregations and an agency of the United Way.

The fundraiser benefited Caring Days' new Mal and Charlotte Moore Center in Tuscaloosa, which provides services for adults suffering from memory loss and their caregivers.

The center, which opened in 2012, is named for Moore, who died March 30 at the age of 73, and his wife, Charlotte Moore, who battled Alzheimer's for 20 years before dying in January 2010 at the age of 71.

"We know Mal is with us now," Caring Days Executive Director Vicki Kerr said. "I think he truly loved what we are doing and wanted to help other families."

Heather Cook, Moore's daughter, called the program a "treasure" in the community, noting her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's and her father's devoted care for his wife for more than 20 years.

Cook teared up as she told the packed room at Indian Hills Country Club that UA and its athletics department were like a second family to her father.

"The reason my dad was able to do the things he did was because he loved the university," Cook said after the lunch.

John Cochran described Moore as modest and a true gentleman.

"He was just a wonderful man," he said.

In addition to the observations about Moore, the Cochrans shared stories from their long careers in journalism.

The two met covering the Cold War summit on ballistic missiles between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1986.

John Cochran covered every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower.

Cochran, who joined the Army for the GI benefits to complete his education at UA, said he was tapped by the Army to assist with audio recordings of Eisenhower because of the college courses he had completed and his experience working for a radio station in Tuscaloosa. Cochran said the Pentagon wanted a soldier with audio experience to help with recordings during the meeting between Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Paris in 1960.

John Cochran, who eventually left the post during the administration of President John F. Kennedy to complete his education, said the experience convinced him he wanted to be part of the White House press corps.

"It was really the University of Alabama that got me the White House," he said.

Responding to prepared questions, John Cochran observed presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush were among the nicest he covered as a correspondent.

"They were just wonderful people," he said.

Kennedy exuded charisma.

"Kennedy was special, really special," John Cochran said.

Barbara Cochran, the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in public Affairs Journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism and former news executive for National Public Radio, CBS News and NBC, shared observations about the changing roles of women in journalism and the effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the government.

She said when she started with The Washington Star newspaper, women were just beginning to break out of the pigeon hole of the society and lifestyles pages to regularly get chances to cover hard news.

"We were still enough of a rarity we were treated differently," she said.

Cochran also observed the press clubs in Washington tended to be all-male when she started. In contrast, she noted most of the students now in journalism and communications programs in colleges are women.

"We have come a long way," she said.

Noting recent revelations about government spying programs including the monitoring of communications of some members of the press, Barbara Cochran said Sept. 11, 2001, changed the government's relationship with the press.

"The kind of thing that would be unthinkable before that is now done in the name of national security," she said.

<p>Veteran journalist and broadcaster Barbara Cochran remembered Mal Moore, the late athletics director for the University of Alabama, as a kind friend who was patient with her "dumb" questions about football and who shared her passion for literature and poetry.</p><p>Her husband, John Cochran, a UA graduate and former senior correspondent for ABC News, recalled a friendship with Moore that began with a meeting on the practice field and conversations about football before evolving into a more personal relationship. </p><p>"We talked about personal things ... I felt he gave good advice to me, and I hope I gave him good advice," John Cochran said. </p><p>The Cochrans, friends of Moore who spent careers covering national and international events and politics, were the featured speakers Monday at a luncheon to benefit Caring Days, a day care program for adults with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of memory loss. The program is a ministry of 23 local congregations and an agency of the United Way.</p><p>The fundraiser benefited Caring Days' new Mal and Charlotte Moore Center in Tuscaloosa, which provides services for adults suffering from memory loss and their caregivers. </p><p>The center, which opened in 2012, is named for Moore, who died March 30 at the age of 73, and his wife, Charlotte Moore, who battled Alzheimer's for 20 years before dying in January 2010 at the age of 71.</p><p>"We know Mal is with us now," Caring Days Executive Director Vicki Kerr said. "I think he truly loved what we are doing and wanted to help other families."</p><p>Heather Cook, Moore's daughter, called the program a "treasure" in the community, noting her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's and her father's devoted care for his wife for more than 20 years. </p><p>Cook teared up as she told the packed room at Indian Hills Country Club that UA and its athletics department were like a second family to her father.</p><p>"The reason my dad was able to do the things he did was because he loved the university," Cook said after the lunch. </p><p>John Cochran described Moore as modest and a true gentleman.</p><p>"He was just a wonderful man," he said.</p><p>In addition to the observations about Moore, the Cochrans shared stories from their long careers in journalism.</p><p>The two met covering the Cold War summit on ballistic missiles between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1986. </p><p>John Cochran covered every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower. </p><p>Cochran, who joined the Army for the GI benefits to complete his education at UA, said he was tapped by the Army to assist with audio recordings of Eisenhower because of the college courses he had completed and his experience working for a radio station in Tuscaloosa. Cochran said the Pentagon wanted a soldier with audio experience to help with recordings during the meeting between Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Paris in 1960.</p><p>John Cochran, who eventually left the post during the administration of President John F. Kennedy to complete his education, said the experience convinced him he wanted to be part of the White House press corps. </p><p>"It was really the University of Alabama that got me the White House," he said.</p><p>Responding to prepared questions, John Cochran observed presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush were among the nicest he covered as a correspondent. </p><p>"They were just wonderful people," he said. </p><p>Kennedy exuded charisma.</p><p>"Kennedy was special, really special," John Cochran said. </p><p>Barbara Cochran, the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in public Affairs Journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism and former news executive for National Public Radio, CBS News and NBC, shared observations about the changing roles of women in journalism and the effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the government. </p><p>She said when she started with The Washington Star newspaper, women were just beginning to break out of the pigeon hole of the society and lifestyles pages to regularly get chances to cover hard news. </p><p>"We were still enough of a rarity we were treated differently," she said.</p><p>Cochran also observed the press clubs in Washington tended to be all-male when she started. In contrast, she noted most of the students now in journalism and communications programs in colleges are women. </p><p>"We have come a long way," she said. </p><p>Noting recent revelations about government spying programs including the monitoring of communications of some members of the press, Barbara Cochran said Sept. 11, 2001, changed the government's relationship with the press.</p><p>"The kind of thing that would be unthinkable before that is now done in the name of national security," she said. </p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>